One Stop Flights With Layover vs Direct Flight Price Difference?
 

I am a US citizen. I am flying to the US from outside the US. Almost every flight I have flown from the US and back has been a direct flight and I always look for a good price and good time schedule. I do notice the direct flight prices now are very high. I usually fly with Delta or Jetblue or sometimes American. Basically whichever is the lowest cost. I have never seen flight prices this high.

What I did notice was American and United seem to have more reasonable prices flying back to the US. It's still at least 2 times the amount I normally pay for it though... but these are one stop flights with a layover. Now do people here book these flights to save money or do most people do not bother with this? I mean these direct flights are like $450 to $600 back to the US. Normally I pay anywhere between $125-$200 each way. Some of these one stop flights are a bit more than $300 so you save $150-$300. I do notice some of these seem to be main cabin as well with AA so that is good right since you can cancel and get credit for up to a year?

Now if I do decide on doing a one stop flight, how long does the layover in the Us city should be no less than? For example a flight from Cancun back to a US city and then to the final US city... I seen some layover of 1.5 hours. Another is 3.5 hours etc. But are shorter layout giving you a bigger chance of missing your next flight? Of course if you do one stop flight, there is double the chance of delay and other issue like luggage lost? Also when you do a one stop flight, you do not need to get your checked luggage right from the first US city you stop at before you go on the connecting flight to your final city?

Thanks.

Airfare like everything else recently has gone up. Demand has been through the roof for the airliens recently contributing to the higher fares.

The layover time you need is going to depend on where your conencting through, some airports are better than others about clearing customs. You won't be able to book an itinerary that doesn't meet the airlines published "minimum connection time", however whether that is a sensible connection time is a different question. I can't think of any US airports where 3.5 hours wouldn't be enough time to clear customs and make the next flight (assuming no unexpected delays), however at most 1.5 hours is probably cutting it close for an international arrival and doesn't leave any cushion if things are a little slower than usual. If you have specific flights/connection points in mind I'm sure people would be happy to give you their thoughts whether that is a sensible connection. If you miss the connecting flight, the airline will be able to rebook you on their next flight with available seats for no charge.

US airports are different from most other airports across the globe with how international arrivals are handled. If you are connecting to a US destination from an international flight, you will pick up your checked bag at the first port of arrival and take it with you through customs (you do immigration/customs are your first arrival point in the US). You will then recheck the bag to your final destination (usually at a desk located just past the customs exit area)

Okay. So if you are flying from Cancun back to the US, and say you are taking a one stop flight as oppose to direct flight and you want to go to NYC. Say the first connecting flight is from Cancun to Charlotte. Then there is a layover. Then the connecting flight would be from Charlotte to NYC.


So the flight goes from Cancun to Charlotte. Then let say there is a 1.5 hour layover. Then the flight departs from Charlotte to NYC. And let's use another example where there is a 3 hour layover.


So when you fly from Cancun to Charlotte and get off, you will clear US customs when you get out. However, couldn't this process take a long if there is lot of people. Then you will have to go and wait for your checked luggage at the carousel right? However, couldn't this take very long though as there could be delays in this? So after this is done, you would then need to drop off your checked luggage at the American Airlines counter? But do you need to talk to the airline agent? I assume not but where do you then give your checked luggage at? But someone has to give you a receipt for you luggage drop right? This is the desk right next to the checkin but that rarely has any people waiting in line much because that is for people who are doing a connecting flight?


Now after this is done, do you need to go through the scanners again where you take off your shoes and put all your belongings in the bin and go through that? Because if you have to do all this, isn't a 1.5 hour layover really cutting it close or not enough time? I mean going through customs does take at least 30+ minutes right? I don't recall it ever being that fast even when direct flight from Cancun to US as there is always a line. Then when you wait for your checked luggage at the carousel, that could be another 30 minutes. And by then, going through the scanners could take another 30 minutes. Then how do you even board on time then since they board customers about 30 minutes or so before takeoff?


Then you also have to factor if your flight from Cancun to Charlotte is delayed or not. But assuming things go fast, how long would it take to clear customs... then pick up your checked luggage at the carousel and then go through the scanners again? Because if you have to not only wait to pick up your checked luggage at the carousel and wait for that... but also go through the scanners again... this seems like it will be very close. Can someone here confirm all I said here is correct? I had thought you didn't had to pick up your checked luggage. Also you pick up your checked luggage after clearing customs?


So wouldn't 3 hours for a layover be more safe in this example? Say 2.5 hours is probably okay? So what happens if you miss your connecting flight if your first flight from Cancun to Charlotte is delayed? Or it take long time to wait for luggage in carousel? Also don't you have to make sure you get through the scanner for domestic flights within 30 minutes of your flight, or they won't let you go through?

CLT is a hub for AA, the process typically is quite smooth.

Assuming you check bags - yes, in theory there could be delays. In practice - there are rarely issues.

No, you don't need to talk to anyone. You go through customs, you drop the bags, which are tagged to the final destination, they scan the barcode, and off you go to security and your connecting flight.

It depends on the season, airport, situation. Without bags and with Global Entry, I typically make it in 15 minutes. Security takes a few more minutes (depending on the airport)

You need to be on the plane at T-15 minutes.

It really depends. 3 hours should be safe, regardless. 90 minutes is doable if there are no major delays.
If you have no bags, you could do it in 60 minutes.

They put you on the next available flight. You can change the flight either at the rebooking desk, past customs when you drop the bags, or you can change the flight at the customer service center past security. Security will let you go through as long as you have a BP for the same day (even if the flight already left).

I have one checked bag. I also do not have global entry or anything like that.


But do you need to go through the scanners again at once you get to Charlotte? I assume you do right?


Well I seen some flights from Cancun to Charlotte or to Miami or Dallas etc and the layover is 2 hours or less. The shortest is a bit over 1.5 hours. That is before you fly to NYC. So are you saying, there is a good chance one delay will cause an issue for you? Because if the layover is 1.5 hours, you need to make sure there is no delay in anything? Has anyone here done this trip before from Cancun to Charlotte with a 1.5 hour layover and then to NYC? I also see other similar ones like at Fort Worth Texas and Miami.

I want to mention several things here. I am going to fly from Cancun back to NYC. I am not buying a roundtrip ticket as I'm going back to NYC. Also I am planning to fly back to NYC this month. I do know the airfares are much lower the next month. It will be either to JFK or La Guardia.


So for example if you check one stop flights from Cancun to NYC, there are some that are 1.5 hour layover, some a bit less than 2 hours. Some are a bit over 3 hours. For example if you check orbitz or AA, there are flights that go from Cancun to Charlotte. Then there is a bit over 1.5 hour layover... or 3.5 hour layover. Then the connecting flight flies to NYC. There are also other flights that go from Cancun to Dallas or Miami and then there is a 1.5 hour or around 2 hour layover. Then the connecting flight goes to NYC. There are many of these like this where the first stop is to Charlotte or Dallas or Miami if you take a look. So if they have flights with layovers as short as 1.5 hours, would that mean usually there is no issue then?


The thing is I do have checked luggage so I will have to wait for it at the carousel right after going through US immigration? Also couldn't this also take very long as well? So there is that, and then there is the waiting for the luggage at carousel. Then you need to go past customs and then drop the checked luggage off at the AA desk counter? But how long does that take and that rarely has a line right? Because you are just dropping your checked luggage as oppose someone checking in? Or is it similar? So you have to go through all these 3 things... then you have to go through the Charlotte security scanning things where you need to take off your belt and put everything in the bin right? But don't they only allow you to go there as long as your flight is at least 30 minutes from departure? Then you also have to get to the gate at Charlotte because usually they tell people to board about 30 minutes in right? So if there is any delay in any of these things, then what happens? Also I didn't even mention the fact that your flight from Cancun to Charlotte could also be delayed as well. So assuming your flight from Cancun to Charlotte isn't delayed... you basically have to go through US immigration, wait at the carousel for your checked luggage, then go to the desk counter to drop off your checked luggage from Charlotte to NYC, you have to make sure this is all done within 1 hour because they won't let you go through the scanning thing if your flight departs less than 30 minutes? So basically everything has to go right in order for a 1.5 hour layover to work in this situation?


You mentioned if you had no checked luggage and have global pass, this would be simple on 1.5 hour layover. But I have checked luggage and no global pass. So you would not recommend this then? But 3.5 hour layover at Charlotte would be fine? What about 1.5 hour to 2 hour layover at Dallas or Miami? What about 2.5 hour layover. Is that worst than Charlotte because I heard lot of international flights come to Miami internationally so that would be worst?



Would like opinion from others who has done this one stop flight.

I never used that app. But how would it make the process faster?


Well there seem to be many one stop flights from Cancun to Charlotte/Dallas/Miami to NYC. Lot of these layovers are between 1.5 hours to 2 hours. Then there are some that are 2 to 3.5 hours etc. But what is the reason for people missing their connection usually? Because if you have checked luggage and no global pass, then will you most likely still make the connecting flight? If there is a delay in any of these things, then what happens? Someone mentioned the airline will book you on the next flight for no extra cost right? But this could also mean the next day most likely right assuming the flight from Charlotte to NYC will be an afternoon or evening flight? I don't mind being early and waiting a bit, but it seems 1.5 hours or so is very tight in this situation? So it would only for people with no checked luggage and global entry?



Would like to know what is the minimum amount of layover someone should want if they have checked bag and no global entry based on their experience.

If you click on the link I provided, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website will explain how it could make the process faster.

Okay thanks. But can anyone who have flown with a one stop flight give their experience on this? Is 1.5 hours cutting it really close especially if you have checked luggage and no global pass?

If you book the 90 connection and don't make it, AA will put you on the next flight. Many people do this drill every single day, and the earth continues to spin.

Okay so the other way around. Say you are in the US and want to fly to cancun. Almost all flights i taken from us to cancun were direct flights.


But say you want to fly on a certain day where direct flight cost a lot more and having a one stop flight cost less. What is the minimum layover time for this?


Example say you are planning to go from nyc whether it's jfk or la guardia and say the first stop is at either charlotte or miami before it then departs to cancun. Would you need minimum 90 minutes layover?


Also when you arrive at charlotte or miami, you would have to get out and then go through the x ray machine again or not? Will have one checked bag and one carry on and a fannypack carry on. Also this means your checked luggage gets moved twice right, or not how they do it?


The thing is if you have to do go through x ray again and have to put your carry on and your personal item with you, wouldn't you not have enough time?

Airlines each have specified minimum connecting times at the airports where they offer connections. The times can vary, depending on the connecting airport, and whether the connection is domestic to domestic; domestic to international; international to domestic; or international to international.

At most U.S. airports when connecting on the same airline domestic to international or domestic to domestic, you will remain airside for the connection, and will not have to go through security again. And checked baggage, if any, would ordinarily be checked through to your final destination.

International to a US domestic, you have to claim your luggage, go through customs and put it back (not really recheck it, but drop it back off). This can take additional time (and they can lose your luggage like they did mine from JFk-FLL. :mad: